PHOENIX — The Phoenix Mercury will soon be the third WNBA team in the league to get its own designated practice facility!
The Mercury will soon be training at a facility located near 7th and Lincoln streets, in close proximity to the Footprint Center and Chase Field, team officials announced Thursday morning.
"Building a state-of-the-art practice facility for the Mercury, for the women, investing in everything that they do so we can win at the highest level in the WNBA is a really big deal. And so, this helps everyone from the Suns to the WNBA, to the Mercury, to everyone," Phoenix Suns and Mercury owner Mat Ishbia told ABC15 Thursday. "And hopefully, the other WNBA teams follow in the league because we've got to elevate the whole WNBA together. And we're leaders here in Phoenix."
The Mercury currently practices at the same facility as the Phoenix Suns, the Verizon 5G Performance Center, which opened in 2020.
Team officials say it will be a $100+ million investment with more than 58,000 square feet for the Mercury’s “state-of-the-art” practice facility.
"We want to make this the best organization in all sports, not just in the NBA, not just in Phoenix, not just in the WNBA, all sports," Ishbia said. "And so doing those things, making it so people love working here, people have amenities and things that they can really enjoy."
It will reportedly have:
- 24/7 access for players and coaching staff
- Two dedicated practice courts with 10 baskets
- A fitness room and functional movement area, which includes hot and cold pools and underwater treadmills
- A player and family lounge
- A film room
- An expansive locker room with state-of-the-art technology
- A dedicated kitchen and chef
Also in the space will be the Mercury and Suns new team member business headquarters that will offer:
- Indoor and outdoor basketball courts
- An indoor arcade
- A pickleball court and putting green
- A workout facility
- A showcase kitchen stocked with complimentary beverages and healthy snacks for team members
- A Suns and Mercury fan store, shop and a visual presentation of the Suns and Mercury’s Ring of Honor.
ESPN reported over the summer about the wide range of training facilities within the WNBA, with some teams practicing at recreation centers, their own home courts, or college courts.
The Las Vegas Aces became the first team to have their own practice facility this year, ESPN says.
